Power Metallic Begins Metallurgical Testing for Lion Deposit Project in Canada
In a significant move towards advancing its mining projects, Power Metallic Mines Inc. has initiated metallurgical testing for the Lion deposit, with the process contracted to SGS Canada Inc. The testing will take place at two locations in Quebec — Quebec City and Lakefield — and is designed to assess the recoverability of various metals in the Lion deposit.
The company has stated that metallurgical testing is a pivotal step in the mining industry, as it helps mitigate risks associated with project development and is crucial for preparing NI 43-101 resource reports that assess mining projects’ economic potential. Although Power Metallic doesn’t plan to produce a NI 43-101 report immediately, the outcomes from this study will provide critical information for analysts evaluating the economic viability of the Nisk project. By following approaches utilized by successful projects such as Filo and Great Bear, the metallurgical tests aim to generate meaningful data to support potential future assessments.
Power Metallic has engaged in a competitive bidding process for the metallurgical studies and has awarded the contract to SGS Canada due to their extensive experience in flotation metallurgical testing. The preliminary work has already demonstrated that the copper mineralization at the Lion deposit occurs primarily within coarse-grained chalcopyrite and cubanite, which are expected to respond favorably to conventional sulphide concentration methods. The testing will also help understand the potential recoveries of platinum group elements (PGEs), gold, silver, and nickel, all of which are anticipated to be found within a traditional sulphide concentrate.
Notably, the Lion deposit reveals two mineralization zones: the High-Grade (HG) zone and the lower-grade Hanging-wall Zone (LG). Current analyses suggest that most of the metal concentration resides within the HG zone, characterized by semi-massive to massive copper sulphide mineralization. The chosen sample rejects encompass both zones, providing a broad understanding of the potential mineral wealth.
Power Metallic has sourced drill core reject samples from the Lion deposit, compiling a dataset that is spatially representative of known mineralization across the site. The HG zone samples consist of 103 cores from 15 drill holes, whereas the LG zone samples cover 99 cores from 10 holes. Each of the collected reject samples weighs approximately 300 kg, which has been specially prepared and delivered to the SGS laboratory. From these, SGS will create a 75 kg composite test material sourced from each zone, ultimately homogenizing the samples to ensure accuracy in further evaluations.
The subsequent metallurgical tests will encompass all principal metals: copper, palladium, platinum, gold, silver, and nickel, while additional assessments for rare earth minerals may be pursued depending on initial findings. SGS anticipates that the metallurgical tests will require approximately 14 weeks for completion. While Power Metallic aims to share testing results as soon as possible, full reporting is not expected until January 2026, providing a clear timeline for stakeholders involved.
Power Metallic is fully committed to progressing the Nisk Project Area, with a focus on optimizing resource recovery and potential expansion of mineralization across various zones. The company not only owns a significant land package in the Nisk area but also possesses a stake in broader land portfolios in Canada, British Columbia, and even Saudi Arabia, further diversifying its exploration capabilities.
The company’s leadership, including CEO Terry Lynch and qualified person Joseph Campbell, have expressed optimism about these explorations and the future of Power Metallic as it seeks to position itself as a key player in North America's mining sector.
For more information about Power Metallic and its ongoing projects, interested readers can reach out directly to Power Metallic Mines Inc. located in Toronto, Ontario, or visit their official website.